Kids who are convinced that they hate poetry or think it’s dull and difficult, are likely to change their opinions when they open this book. Using examples that range from exciting, well-told stories that grip the imagination to song lyrics and more, the author shows that there is more to poetry than many imagine. This revised and updated edition guides middle school and high school students through poetry created for many purposes and written in many forms, and offers insights, guidelines, and techniques to enable students to read and evaluate poems, as well as to write original poetry. Titles in Barron’s Painless series cover a wide range of subjects taught in middle school and high school, presenting each subject in a student-friendly format, and demonstrating that learning can be exciting and mind-expanding.

From the reviews:Praise for the previous edition “This easy-to-read and remarkably thorough volume turned out to be one of the best introductions to the reading and writing of poetry that I’ve ever encountered. … The author leaves no stone unturned in exploring every aspect of the poetic art, and she makes generous use of some of the greatest poetry in the English language to illustrate her lessons. This fine volume is highly recommended for readers of all ages and deserves a prominent place on every library shelf.” Jeffrey Cooper, KLIATT, November 2001